{"id":2910,"date":"2020-12-14T22:00:57","date_gmt":"2020-12-14T13:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/biggestinjapan.com\/?p=2910"},"modified":"2020-12-08T15:32:10","modified_gmt":"2020-12-08T06:32:10","slug":"the-5-best-games-of-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/biggestinjapan.com\/index.php\/2020\/12\/14\/the-5-best-games-of-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"The 5 Best Games of 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In a year where most people have spent more time shut up at home than at any time in recent memory, video games sure have had our backs. Here are the top 5 games I played in 2020.<\/p>\n<p><strong>*Note: Entries are listed in alphabetical order.<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"13 Sentinels Aegis Rim - Doomsday Trailer | PS4\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Hx6MNMHfjTQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Genre:<\/strong> RTS Meets Point-and-Click Adventure<\/p>\n<p><strong>Developer:<\/strong> Vanillaware<\/p>\n<p><strong>Non-spoiler plot summary:<\/strong> An unstoppable horde of robotic kaiju are attacking the human race at various points in time. After losing again and again, humanity makes its last stand in 1985 Tokyo\u2014where a group of 13 teens from across centuries pilot giant robots in the final battle. However, that\u2019s only half the story: the other half is the twisted path each one of them took to get there.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why you should play it: <\/strong><em>13 Sentinels<\/em> is a love letter to 80s and 90s sci-fi. From Hollywood blockbusters like <em>The Terminator <\/em>and <em>E.T.<\/em> to Japanese anime like <em>Sailor Moon<\/em> and <em>Macross<\/em>, each character\u2019s story twists and transforms several of these classics into something both new and familiar.<\/p>\n<p>Told in a non-linear fashion, each of the 13 pilots is the main character in their own backstory narrative and a supporting character in many others. They are sometimes the hero, sometimes the villain. It\u2019s only after doing all of their stories to completion that the overall \u201cmeta-story\u201d becomes clear.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, the game is also an RTS where the 13 are united in the final battle for the future of humanity. While not exactly the most challenging experience, with four different types of giant robots, dozens of types of kaiju, and an ever-changing enemy strategy, there\u2019s plenty of fun to be had as you battle to the story\u2019s ultimate conclusion.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Play it if you like: <\/strong>80s\/90s sci-fi films, anime, and manga<\/p>\n<p><strong>Available on:<\/strong> PlayStation 4<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Final Fantasy VII Remake - The Game Awards 2019 Trailer | PS4\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/eHdaWMP7D2s?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>Final Fantasy VII Remake<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Genre:<\/strong> Action JRPG<\/p>\n<p><strong>Developer: <\/strong>Square-Enix<\/p>\n<p><strong>Non-spoiler plot summary:<\/strong> After becoming a mercenary, former elite soldier Cloud Strife reluctantly joins a group of eco-terrorists attempting to overthrow the evil power company that controls their city. But as their battles progress, Cloud and his allies find themselves beset by strange ghostly apparitions that both help and hinder them\u2014seemingly without reason or warning.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why you should play it:<\/strong> On its most surface level <em>Final Fantasy VII Remake<\/em> is an expanded retelling of the first few hours of one of the most critically acclaimed RPGs of all time. It\u2019s equal parts novel and nostalgic as our heroes hit all the same story beats\u2014but now with endless amounts of new detail. Once minor characters now have full arcs and the city is fleshed out so that it becomes the living, breathing metropolis it was always supposed to be. Add to this a new battle system that combines the classic turn-based combat with standard action RPG fair and you get something far more active than the original.<\/p>\n<p>But what sets the game apart from other remakes is that it being a remake is part of the game\u2019s actual story. The wraiths that appear throughout the story are constantly trying to push our heroes onto the path that the original game took\u2014no matter how much they wish to fight against it. So by the end, the game is really a question of: if you knew you\u2019d win in the end if you follow the path fate has laid out, would you give up your certain victory for true free will?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Play it if you like: <\/strong><em>Final Fantasy VII, Kingdom Hearts<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Available on:<\/strong> PlayStation 4<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"HADES - Announcement Trailer - Nintendo Switch\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hsi7BMIp0Js?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>Hades<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Genre:<\/strong> Plot-Heavy Nonlinear Roguelike<\/p>\n<p><strong>Developer: <\/strong>Supergiant Games<\/p>\n<p><strong>Non-spoiler plot summary: <\/strong>Zagreus, the son of the Greek god Hades, has spent his entire life cooped up in the underworld\u2014chafing under his father\u2019s strict rules. But one day, he learns a secret that shakes him to his very core. In light of this revelation, he vows to escape the realm of the dead\u2014no matter how many times he has to die in the process. Luckily, he has a whole slew of relatives up on mount Olympus just dying to help him out in exchange for a visit.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why you should play it:<\/strong> Due to their random nature, most rogue-like games suffer from a lack of story. Sure, many have environmental storytelling but once you finish off the last boss, the game is basically over\u2014when you play it again you simply start the story from the beginning. This is not so with <em>Hades<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>In<em> Hades<\/em>, the plot grows with each death. You return to the bottom of hell, chat with friends and enemies alike, and then start your next escape attempt. These characters react to each attempt\u2014the things you encountered and the people you met\u2014slowly unveiling their own individual mysteries and the secrets that drive them. And then, even after you triumph over the last boss, the game is far from over. It\u2019ll take you ten more times before you see the true ending\u2014with each run in between redefining what you thought you knew about the game so far. And even then the game is far from over.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Play it if you like: <\/strong><em>Bastion, Transistor, Pyre<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Available on:<\/strong> Nintendo Switch, PC<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Last of Us Part II \u2013 Release Date Reveal Trailer | PS4\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/II5UsqP2JAk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>The Last of Us Part II<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Genre:<\/strong> Brutal Revenge Simulator<\/p>\n<p><strong>Developer: <\/strong>Naughty Dog<\/p>\n<p><strong>Non-spoiler plot summary:<\/strong> The years since the first game have been tough for Ellie. Now a young woman, she finds herself in the ruins of Seattle on a mission of revenge. But little does she know, her bloodlust is but the latest in a cycle of revenge and that by becoming the hunter she, in turn, becomes the hunted.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why you should play it:<\/strong> Beautiful graphics, amazing art style, excellent gameplay\u2014these are all a part of <em>The Last of Us Part II<\/em>. However, what sets this game apart is its message and the brutal way it goes about teaching it.<\/p>\n<p>While the original <em>The Last of Us<\/em> is an allegory about the horrible things we\u2019re willing to do in the name of love, <em>The Last of Us Part II<\/em> is about the fallout of those choices\u2014the cycle of revenge and the near impossibility of ending it. We sympathize with Ellie and what she\u2019s been through. We want to see her get revenge. However, the game works hard to show that her side is just one half of the story\u2014that each of those she murders have their own families, friends, and loved ones. Revenge is a game with no winners, so the only logical thing to do is not to play.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Play it if you like: <\/strong><em>The Last of Us, Bioshock Infinite<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Available on:<\/strong> PlayStation 4<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=NTunTURbyUU<\/p>\n<h2>Marvel\u2019s Spider-Man: Miles Morales<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Genre:<\/strong> Open-world Superhero Action<\/p>\n<p><strong>Developer:<\/strong> Insomniac Games<\/p>\n<p><strong>Non-spoiler plot summary:<\/strong> With Peter Parker traveling abroad with Mary Jane, New York City is left in the hands of young Miles Morales. But no sooner has the young Spider-Man begun his first solo stint than a street war starts between the Roxxon Energy Corporation and a group of high-tech terrorist known as \u201cThe Underground.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why you should play it:<\/strong> As much as this game is about swinging around New York punching baddies in the face, it is also a personal story. Miles faces numerous issues as he adapts to the move to Harlem and his mother works to gain a seat on the city council. More than that, his best friend\u2014who he hasn\u2019t seen since before he became Spider-Man\u2014is now back in the picture. Thus begins the eternal Spider-Man struggle to balance both sides of his life.<\/p>\n<p>Most importantly, Miles is not perfect. All on his own for the first time, Miles makes all sorts of bad choices\u2014often misguided by the advice of those looking out for him in their own ways. But in the end, this isn\u2019t the story of Miles becoming Peter Parker. It\u2019s the story of Miles becoming his own Spider-Man.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Play it if you like: <\/strong><em>Marvel\u2019s Spider-Man, Batman: Arkham City<\/em>, <em>Infamous<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Available on: <\/strong>PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"font-size: 12px;\"><em>Top image source: <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/finalfantasyvii\/status\/1256931765718970369\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE<\/a> on Twitter.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"more-link-wrapper\"><a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/biggestinjapan.com\/index.php\/2020\/12\/14\/the-5-best-games-of-2020\/\">Click to Read<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">The 5 Best Games of 2020<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2914,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[215,219,190,105,226,227,209],"class_list":["post-2910","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-13-sentinels-aegis-rim","tag-best-of-2020","tag-final-fantasy-vii-remake","tag-game-review","tag-hades","tag-spider-man","tag-the-last-of-us","excerpt","zoom","full-without-featured","even","excerpt-0"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biggestinjapan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/EW9uPZIUMAApprV.jpg?fit=1920%2C1080&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/biggestinjapan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2910","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/biggestinjapan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/biggestinjapan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biggestinjapan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biggestinjapan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2910"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/biggestinjapan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2910\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2916,"href":"https:\/\/biggestinjapan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2910\/revisions\/2916"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biggestinjapan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2914"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/biggestinjapan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2910"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biggestinjapan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2910"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biggestinjapan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2910"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}